Thai law provides an expedited path to citizenship for those who have deep connections to the country through marriage. Put simply, you can apply for citizenship without first having to hold Thai Permanent Residency for five years.
Foreign men married to Thai citizens are biggest category of people who are potentially eligible for Thai citizenship, but often don’t know it, or they think that the requirements are higher than they actually are.
To be sure, this path doesn’t apply to everyone (even if you are married). However, if all of the following points apply, or will apply to you at some point, then you are at the starting point of a realistic and attainable path to Thai citizenship.
- Lived in Thailand consecutively for three years on valid non-immigrant visa extensions;
- Have had three years of consecutive work permits from a Thai based employer;
- Have a minimum income of 40,000 baht per month and have paid tax for three years on that income; and
- Are married to a Thai citizen.
If this isn’t you (i.e. not working in Thailand for a Thai employer, or on a retirement or education visa), then at present current legislation doesn’t provide any realistic paths to citizenship.
If you are working here and planning to stay long term, but not marred to a Thai national, then check out Thai permanent residency, which you can apply for after a full three years of uninterrupted work permits. After holding PR for 5 years, you will then be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship.
If you are a foreign woman married to a Thai husband, then please read this article, as legislation applies differently for the wives of Thai husbands.
What the Legislation Says
The Thai Nationality Act (2008) states:
Section 10:
An alien who possesses the following qualifications may apply for naturalization as a Thai:
(1) becoming sui juris in accordance with Thai law and the law under which he has nationality;
(2) having good behavior;
(3) having regular occupation;
(4) having a domicile in the Thai Kingdom for a consecutive period of not less than five years till the day of filing the application for naturalization;
(5) having knowledge of Thai language as prescribed in the Regulations.
Section 11:
The provisions of Section 10 (4) and (5) shall not apply if the applicant for naturalization as a Thai;
….
(4) is a husband of a person with Thai nationality.
Interpreting the amendments
The changes made to the Thai Nationality Act in 2008 have opened an easier and expedited path to foreign men who are married to Thai citizens. The key ‘shortcuts’ are outlined in Sections 11 of the Act above and in plain english mean:
- Having permanent residence in Thailand is no longer required – so you are eligible after 3 years living in Thailand
- You are exempted from singing the Thai national anthem or the Royal anthem (Sansoen Phra Barami/สรรเสริญพระบารมี)
Although Section 11 refers to waving the Thai language requirement, in practice this has meant that the singing portion of the test isn’t applied to those married to Thai’s. Speaking Thai is certainly useful as far as the points test goes, and it be used to further boost your overall score which will determine your eligibility.
So this is me, what do I do next?
Married to a Thai citizen, three years work permits, tax returns and earning more than the 40,000 baht per month income – you are all of these. So what are the next steps?
Applications for Thai citizenship are made via the Royal Thai Police Special Branch rather than immigration. The full details of how you can do this all yourself are contained in this following article titled ‘Thai citizenship application process’.
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I have read that there are exceptions to the employment requirement, but of course I know you can read a lot of incorrect information on the web. So here I am double checking. I am currently here on an LTR visa which is good for another 9 years. I have a very decent income in retirement. For many years in the 90s through the 2010s I visited Thailand and for about 15 of those years I lectured for several weeks at a major university each year — but never with a work permit. I have a Thai spouse. We are currently married for 1+ year. My spoken and written Thai is not great but not bad, and I could probably get through an interview without difficulty. But three years of employment will never happen. Is there no hope? (And thank you very much for taking the time to respond.)
Hi Gene,
Great question!
Unfortunately one of the non negotiables is working for a Thai company with a valid work permit in the three years leading up to any citizenship application.
Three years of Thai tax returns as well showing an income from work of at least 40,000 baht per month.
Being in an LTR visa doesn’t facilitate any of these options and you’d also need to be on a more traditional non-O or non-B immigrant visa.
Also non negotiable is that you have to be married to a Thai citizen for at least three years before you are able to apply.
Sorry I can’t be the bearer of better news.
TC
I worked for 2 Thai Companies for ( 4 yrs 1999-2004) and (3 yrs 2006-2008) respectively.
I have been a Thai resident since 2004 (21 yrs).
I’ve been married to my Thai wife since 2000. I am 71 years old.
I have a permanent combined Australian defence/age pension of $4800AUD/month
My Thai is limited due to severe hearing loss. But I am able to understand and respond to simple phrases and questions.
I would appreciate the opportunity to become a Thai citizen.
Hi Robin,
Recognised your name and realised that you’ve posted here before a few years ago. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in the rules since we last spoke. You need to be legally working in Thailand for the three years in the lead up to your citizenship application. Given you are retired now (albeit with Thai PR), Special Branch won’t be able to accept or process an application from you unless you show them three years of work permits and income tax returns on your Thai salary.
Note also that the for those married to Thai citizens, the language test is waived, so if you do decide to go down the employment path again (unlikely I’m guessing, but I thought I’d mention it!) then you don’t have to worry about Thai language skills.
Hopes this helps, and sorry I can’t be a bearer of more positive news.
Cheers
TC
I started work in Sept. 2022, so in Sept. 2025 I will have worked for 3 years; but do I need to wait to apply until after I submit my 2025 taxes?
You can probably start talking to them towards the end of the year. Regardless of how long people have been here, applicants who go towards the end of the year are generally asked to bring in the latest tax return in January as soon as they can get it.
Thank you so much! Really appreciate it!
I’m married to Thai girl for over three years and I lived here since last three year. I do freelancing work remotely. I want to live here with her and get Thai citizenship and live here permanently, ready to renounce my citizenship, but the problem here is some are saying you need to work here 3 years after marriage and pay taxes and some say okay to freelancing as long as I’m paying taxes, i did pay taxes for three years as I used Thai bank account. I got different answers from different lawyers, now what to do?
At the end of this article is a link to the citizenship application process which answers all your questions. As you describe it however, you don’t qualify as you aren’t working for a Thai registered company (amongst other things).
Hello,
Is a non-immigrant O Visa (marriage) + WP for 3 years sufficient or is the requirement a non B visa + WP for 3 years? Thank you
non O is fine so long as there is no break in it. That is, you have an extension of stay each year. You’ll need three full tax years of tax returns as well. So for many, that often stretches things out some.